Borussia Dortmund has announced plans to reward fans who leave their phones alone during matches, a move that could make stadium selfies costly. The club is offering signed jerseys and gift cards for club merchandise to supporters who volunteer to use a "fan mode" in its app, which measures how often phones are unlocked during the game, excluding halftime.
Under the scheme, each unlock costs the user points, and those with the most points win prizes. The app debuts Saturday with a home game against Eintracht Frankfurt. Over 81,000 people fill the stadium, and CEO Carsten Cramer said in a statement that the shared singing, cheering and tension in the stands is "irreplaceable." The rewards and app are voluntary, and fans are not banned from using their phones.
The move reflects a wider backlash in German football against turning stadium atmosphere into social media content, particularly by influencers using professional camera equipment. Second-division club Hertha Berlin recently banned "commercially produced and monetized" video productions while still allowing personal photos and videos. Dynamo Dresden announced a similar ban on commercial filming for social media in August, citing fan comfort and the protection of its TV rights deals.
Dortmund's players are not part of the scheme. Coach Niko Kovac said he bans phones from the team's pregame meal but does not mind players using phones or headphones in the locker room or on the team bus. "The guys are grown up enough to work out what they need," he said, adding that everyone could spend a little less time on their phones.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing